Fighting for COMMITTMENT!!

Well...I just got home from church not long ago and I was a little disappointed at the attendance...dont get me wrong, I know that Gods Word says that where 2 or more are gathered Hes there...I know He was there...theres no doubt about that...but WHERE WERE THE PEOPLE??!! I think we are having committment issues!

I have to be completely honest here...it always surprises me that people don't want to commit to their church!! I know the whole 'go to where the people are at' comment...I've heard it...I agree with it!! I will preach it till the cows come home...I know we need to take church and Jesus to the community not wait for the community to come to us...but lets be honest with ourselves...is that where people are? Is that why people dont come to church some weeks...or they come to the morning service and not the night unless theyre involved...or vice versa...or is it just that they couldnt be bothered...Im not trying to be rude or harsh and Im not pointing the finger at anyone in particular here...but I think that we have a responsibility as Christian brothers and sisters to be honest and open about this stuff...to be able to rebuke eachother in Christian love...Im speaking in general here...if youre reading this and feeling somewhat offended...then maybe this is for you...I dont know...all I know is that church attendance seems to yo-yo a bit! And no one says anything...people ignore it...some condone it...well I say NO MORE!! I wont condone it...I think that people need to commit!!

Seriously...people need to get real...if people were going out and speaking the Word of God on the streets or in a pub or something Id say 'Hey, that's fantastic...go for it!!!'...but the truth of the matter is...that's not where people are!! I know sometimes we get tired and we might have had a big night or a long day the day before...sometimes we get up and think 'I really just wanna stay home today'...I understand all that...sometimes I get up and think that too...I understand...but the question is...give in or not? I believe that when you get the urge not to go and spend time in Gods House worshipping Him for that hour or 2 on a Sunday, then thats probably where you should be the most!! Maybe its a little thought...'oh, i really dont feel like going tonight...I went this morning...that's enough!'...then you give in and satan goes 'YES! One more!'...

Yes, fantastic...you went to church in the morning! Thats great...and maybe God spoke to you...or maybe you didn't think He did...maybe you didn't hear Him...but since when is church about what WE get out of it anyway?...have we lost our focus on why we go...we go to WORSHIP GOD...thats it!! Its not about US...its about HIM...if He should decide to bless you in some way while youre there then He will do that...but thats not why you should be going...you shouldnt be going to try and see what you can get out of it...but you should be going to GIVE all you've got to God!!

I think of Daniel...what a great example...King Darius made a decree that said that no one could pray to anyone else but him for 30 days and if they were found doing so they would be put to death...thrown into a den of lions...now anyone else might have just gone the 30 days without praying...or if they were really brave they might have prayed in hiding...where no one could see them but they could still speak to God...but Daniel was committed...he wasnt backing out...he was standing strong...it was only 30 days...but Daniel lived for God...God was the air he breathed...isn't that the way it should be?? So Daniel prayed in full view for everyone to see...not because he wanted to show off and say 'Im so great...Im praying and being faithful!' but because he really was faithful...he prayed near an open window where he had always prayed...he didnt change anything for anyone...he was committed to God and he was committed to prayer! He was caught and thrown into the lions den and he STILL didn't give up praying...and you know what? it all payed off...because God sent His angels to protect Daniel and saved him from the lions!!

I dont think its much to ask really for people to be committed...its not me saying this because Im trying to be a snot about it...this is Gods stuff...do you think that God doesnt want you to be committed? God expects it! He expects us to be committed...!! He is committed to us!! Why do we find it so hard to be committed to Him? He gives us ALL His time...when we're asked to give a little of our time we find it so hard! We should be living our life for God...giving Him ALL our time!! Being completely committed to Him, to His church, to our church family as well as our own family!!

Take the challenge...FIGHT FOR COMMITTMENT!!

Your sister in Christ

Committed to FIGHTING FOR THE CAUSE!!

Jodi